Georgia Football: Latest Outback Bowl News and Updates

Despite the Outback Bowl not being played until Jan. 2, there is still a ton of news from Bulldogs camp this past week.

With the season ending, awards had to be handed out, and while there wasn’t one Bulldog player that got a major national award, some of the players were named to different All-American teams.

One of the more recognizable All-American lists is the Football Writers Association of America, and linebacker Jarvis Jones was the only Bulldog that made it. Jones is the third Bulldog in many years to be named to the list, as Drew Bulter was named to the team last year and Justin Houston was selected in 2009.

Jones, who was a Butkus Award finalist, led the team in tackles with 69 stops, but he was the conference leader in sacks with 13.5.

Shortly after the FWAA team was announced, four Bulldogs, including Jones, were named to the Yahoo Sports All-America team. Center Ben Jones and safety Bacarri Rambo earned first team honors, while Jarvis Jones was named to the second team and Isaiah Crowell made the freshman list.

Ben Jones graded out at 82 percent at the center position and did not give up one sack this year. Rambo led the SEC in interceptions with seven, and Crowell was fifth in the SEC with 77 yards rushing per game.

The awards kept on coming for the Bulldogs as they held their annual team Gala on Saturday night.

Ben Jones won the Team MVP award, while Aaron Murray was named Offensive MVP and Jarvis Jones was name the Defensive MVP.

Ben Jones was also named as one the team’s overall permanent captains for 2011. Orson Charles and Cordy Glenn were named offensive captains, while Brandon Boykin and Jarvis Jones were named defensive captains. Drew Butler was named as the special team captain.

Other notable winners from the gala are Chris Conley, Michael Bennett, John Jenkins and Malcolm Mitchell, who won Newcomers of the Year. Also, Justin Anderson, Abry Jones, Mike Gilliard and Conner Norman won Most Improved Player Awards.

As for the Bulldogs' final game of the season, here are some notes that some people may not know.

This will be the 47th bowl appearance, which is the sixth most in NCAA history.

The Bulldogs record in bowl games are 26-17-3 and have played in 18 different bowls during the years, the most of any team.

This will also be the Bulldogs fifth appearance in the Outback Bowl, which is also the of any team. The Bulldogs have a 3-1 record in the game played in Tampa. They played in the first Outback Bowl game in 1986, where they lost to Boston College, 27-24.

The last time the Bulldogs played in the Outback Bowl was in 2005, where they defeated Wisconsin 24-21.

Mark Richt has been to 11 bowls with the Bulldogs and has posted an 8-3 record. He has won two SEC titles, was SEC runner-up twice and has won SEC Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2005.